Abstract: Hydrogels for entrapment of live microorganisms and methods of their use, such as in wastewater purification, are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for determining the level of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype-1 (M1 receptor) anticholinergic activity in a blood serum sample. The methods include radioactive methods and non-radioactive methods. The method comprises the steps of removing protein from the blood serum sample by treatment with perchloric acid (PCA) to produce a PCA-treated serum sample, incubating the PCA-treated serum sample with a membrane preparation from cultured cells expressing the M1 receptor and an M1 receptor ligand; detecting an amount of binding of the M1 receptor ligand to the M1 receptor and comparing the amount of binding to a standard to determine the level of M1 receptor anticholinergic activity in the blood serum sample. Alternatively, the method may comprise loading calcium sensitive dye into the cells and testing serum from a subject in a fluorescence assay to determine the anticholinergic activity relative to a sample known to contain little to no anticholinergic activity.

Abstract: Compositions and method for reducing the concentration of uremic toxins in the body of a patient suffering from some degree of kidney failure are disclosed. The methods can be used to delay the need for conventional dialysis treatment or as an adjunct therapy to reduce the frequency of dialysis sessions, and in some instances, as an alternative to such dialysis sessions.

Abstract: A chuck jaw assembly for use in an apparatus for setting fasteners is disclosed having an elastomeric connector, or retaining member, that holds the jaw teeth of the chuck jaw assembly in the proper axial and circumferentially spaced positions with respect to each other. The jaw teeth have a forward conical section and a rear cylindrical section with a groove formed at an outer periphery. A ring portion of the retaining member is received int he groove and spacer elements that extend inwardly from an inner periphery of the ring portion are received in circumferential gaps between the jaw teeth to ensure that they are maintained in the proper circumferentially spaced positions. A mold having the proper configuration for forming the retaining member is disclosed. An elastomeric material is injected into the mold and is allowed to cure. The retaining member is then removed from the mold.